Thank you so much to Taylor and Michaela for tagging me in this!
THE RULES:
1) Thank the person who nominated you and add a link to their blog.
2) Answer the questions asked on this post — don’t stress it’s quick!
3) Nominate and notify some peeps. 5 preferred.
1. What are your top 3 bookish pet peeves?
- When books of the exact same editions don’t match in sizes (i.e. The Iron Fey series, the AUS paperbacks of the Abhorsen series)
- When I request an ARC and get approved less than a week before the book’s release (SO STRESSFUL)
- Insta-love
2. Name a perfect reading spot:
I’ve always dreamed of having a house someday with a big bay window facing either a body of water or a quiet wooded area, with soft cushions and pillows and plenty of room to prop my feet up. Preferably, it would be inside my personal little library, with floor-to-ceiling shelves and my workspace and lots of soft, warm lighting.
3. Give 3 reading confessions:
- When rereading books I’ve read recently, I often skim the less exciting parts.
- Though I’m scared to do it in my own books, I love seeing books that have been highlighted in.
- One of my favorite parts of the day recently has become coloring in the little bars in my daily page tracker in my bullet journal.
4. When was the last time you cried during a book?
At the time that I’m writing this, Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman. I cried a LOT during that one.
5. Number of books on your bedside table?
I don’t keep books on my bedside table because I very rarely read in bed (I go to bed later than my fiance and our son do, so if I read in bed it’s only on my kindle app on my phone); however, my version of “the bedside table stack” is “the desk stack”, where I currently have 13 fiction books, 1 textbook, and a cookbook.
6. Favorite reading snack?
I don’t snack while reading often because I don’t like getting the pages dirty, so when I do, it’s usually something not very messy, like grapes.
7. What are 3 books you’d recommend to anyone?
There is no book in the world that I would recommend to anyone. I just don’t do that – I’m big on knowing what your genre tastes are, your likes and dislikes, potential triggers, etc., before giving recommendations. At bare minimum, I’ll typically ask the person requesting recs to tell me what their last favorite book was and what their favorite genre is. I’m sorry, I just get really weird anxiety whenever recommending a book to someone that I’m not sure they’ll enjoy! (That said, if I know your reading tastes, I will send you recs ALL DAY LONG because I live for that shit.)
8. Provide a picture of your bookshelf:
I know you can’t see the whole thing, sorry, but this was the most recent picture I had and I have no good lighting to take a new one right now!
9. How much do books mean to you in 3 words?
In 3 words? Hmm… “escape from myself“. Sorry, it sounds dramatic, but truly – I struggle with a slew of various mental health struggles as well as various physical ailments and invisible disabilities, but books and the book community offers me a tremendous amount of reprieve from all of that.
10. Biggest reading secret?
As much as I love blogging and know that I would miss it horribly if I ever stopped or even went on a substantial hiatus… every now and then, a little bit of me misses the days before writing book reviews, when I didn’t take notes or read critically and could just go at whatever pace I wanted and read whatever I wanted without worrying about ARC release dates or anything. Don’t get me wrong, blogging is 100% worth it for me and I’m not going anywhere, but I do have days where it feels a little bit like a job.
Tags:
Scrill AND Rae
Beth
Avery
Louise
Ainslee
{TWITTER . BOOKSTAGRAM . FACEBOOK . GOODREADS}
booksandblends
June 21, 2018a house with bay windows is goals!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Right?! It’s been my dream ever since I was a little girl. Back home in the metro we lived near this house that had 3 stories and each story had a bay window in the same spot so it formed this column looking thing on the side… it was SO COOL.
Rochelle @wanderinglectiophile
June 21, 2018Your perfect reading post sounds heavenly!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Hahaha thank you Rochelle! I’m glad you can relate ♥
Kristin @ Kristin Kraves Books
June 21, 2018Your perfect reading spot is word for word my dream! I completely understand what you mean about blogging feeling like a job. I absolutely adore it but I didn’t realize how much time I would have to dedicate towards it!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Bahahaha yaaaaay, that makes me happy that your dream reading spot is the same! And yes, for sure – people underestimate how tough it is. I almost never tell people IRL that I blog, and when I do, most of the time, I can SEE their eyes glaze over, and you can tell they just… don’t get it. :/
bookrampage
June 21, 2018such a wonderful post! and your pet peeves, reading spot.. so relatable
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Hahaha thank you! ♥
BrunoEdits
June 21, 2018Yaas, I want my own library so badly. Imagine just strolling into it when you want to seclude yourself or having guests over and they ask about the huge double doors at the end of the hall and you casually say: “Oh yeah, that’s my library.” So good. Btw do you have any advice on book blogging?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Oh my gosh, right?! That would be amazing. ♥ #goals haha
Ooooh, are you looking for advice regarding any particular aspect of blogging, or just in general?
BrunoEdits
June 23, 2018How to get more views? I mean people like my reviews but my other posts like TBR’s get close to no views or likes. It’s discouraging because I want my blog to be diverse
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 23, 2018Ahhh, okay! How are you marketing your posts? Do you cross-share the links on social media anywhere? I find that I get the most views and comments on my non-review posts by sharing them to twitter and facebook – for some reason, those always pick up more speed on social media than my reviews do!
BrunoEdits
June 23, 2018I actually don’t, but I don’t have that many followers so I doubt I’d make a difference, but who knows, I’ll try. Thank you! 🙂
Fadwa @ Word Wonders
June 21, 2018Great tag!! Typically when i get approved a week before release date, i rarely read it right away ? especially if i have other arcs that have been sitting there for a while coming out around the same time.
The UK Six of Crows duology don’t match in size and although i’m used to that now it bugged me SO MUCH before!!!
And i do the same with recs, my anxiety spikes up when someone asks for recs or tell me to recommend them my favourites because people have such different taste and i’d rather cater my recs to the person’s preference.
Anyway, i’ll stop rambling haha loved reading your answers!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Thank you! Bahahah I almost NEVERRRR read ARCs in time when I get approved that close to the date… it’s bad but it’s just like, “why did you do this to me?!” lmao
OMG, I didn’t know that about the SOC duology – that’s awful! What a freaking pain D:
Bahahah I’m so glad it’s not just me ♥ Feel free to ramble away, I love it! 😀
Fadwa @ Word Wonders
June 23, 2018Exactly!!! I sometimes just CAN’T do it especially if i’m not in the mood to pick it up and had already given up on being approved.
SoC is the standard UK paperback size but CK is some other unidentified size ?
(Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea
June 21, 2018I am also a sucker for bay windows with lots of cushions and throws! I always want it to start pouring rain and let me just crawl in with a nice big cup of tea and book <3 But I am a total bed reader haha. I am also the first person to bed since my morning work starts at like 4 am 😉 Your bookshelves are lovely! xx
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Oh my goooood, the description of the bay window with cushions and rain and tea and a book… I’m dying inside a little lmao! It sounds so amazing! OMG, 4am – I don’t envy you that. I used to have to go in at 4, for about 8 months straight, and I hated it so much! And thank you love!
(Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea
June 23, 2018Luckily I work remotely, so I roll out of bed, turn coffee on and log in. But yeah.. still the pits. I sleep until the last minute haha. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend ❤
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 25, 2018Ooooh, that’s good! What do you do, if you don’t mind me asking?
(Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea
June 26, 2018I am currently a pharmacy technician. So I spend a lot of time processing reports and prescriptions for diets (I am working for a veterinary pharmacy). I love my job.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 27, 2018That sounds so cool! 😀
Nimika @ wordhaven
June 21, 2018Ah, I love your book nook description so much! Sign me up for a way window facing the woods reading area. Also, “escape from myself” makes so complete sense, I totally get you. <3
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Thank you! Yesss, it would be so cozy and nice – especially in the fall. That’s all I really want in life haha.
Aw, I’m so glad that made sense and didn’t sound silly haha. Thank you <3
RedRocketPanda
June 22, 2018Omg your bookshelves ??
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018😀 Thank you~
Laura Beth
June 22, 2018I love your answers! And your bookshelves are to die for. I’m making progress with my “Lady Lounge,” so I’ll be posting more pictures when it’s less cluttered!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Thank you! 😀 ahaha, they’re a constant work in progress. I put away a huge stack of recent trade additions earlier today and now they’re a disaster because I’m out of room. Oooh I can’t wait to see!!
Karla J. Strand, DPhil, MLIS
June 22, 2018Your secret would be mine as well. I still try to read a (short!) book or two here and there that I know I won’t review. Just to take a breath. Looks like a fun tag!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018I think that’s a really good idea! Part of my version of that lately has just been reading without taking notes or tabbing pages – I love to tab spots that I want to make a note of or remember, but sometimes it’s so relieving to just sit back with a book and not worry about having a notepad or pack of tabs in my lap, haha.
Karla J. Strand, DPhil, MLIS
June 23, 2018Same same. I am addicted to little sticky notes. ha
Ainslee, Jest and Hearts
June 22, 2018THE IRON FEY! SO annoying. I ordered them online and when they arrived I was like “wtf, is this, why are they not the same!?” its not that hard to make the books the same size
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018IT’S SO ANNOYING!! Oh my god! I’m sorry for the caps but it literally makes me so aggravated every time I see them all together on my shelf lmao.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Oh, another example – I bought my fiance the AUS versions of the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix this year because he liked those covers best, but the final book is literally almost DOUBLE the height of the first 4 and it makes me want to scream.
journeyintobooks
June 22, 2018Thanks for doing the tag. Your ideal reading spot sounds perfect and your bookshelves are gorgeous. While I don’t highlight my books I do underline my favourite quotes though a lot of people think I’m crazy for doing it 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Thank you so much! Oh, I don’t blame you at all – I used to underline when I was younger! The only reason I stopped is because I have tremors in my hands and tend to draw VERY uneven lines, lol!!
journeyintobooks
June 23, 2018Your welcome, it’s good to know not everyone thinks I’m weird for doing it ?
Kelly | Another Book in the Wall
June 22, 2018Lovely answers, Destiny! Your reading spot sounds like a slice of heaven! And I’ve recently been guilty of skim reading less exciting parts too. Whoops. Haha.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 22, 2018Thank you! ♥♥ Hahaha, I’m glad it’s not just me! Lately, with all the reading I have to do for my classes, I’ve allowed myself to start speed reading books I’m not loving. I’m still getting over this weird feeling of guilt for it, but honestly, it’s better than spending forever on boring parts and getting into a slump, right?
tasya @ the literary huntress
June 23, 2018Ugh, I hate it when my books size doesn’t match either! Why do they have to create different sizes in the same series?? I always wanted a house that faces a body of water too, preferably with a window seat or terrace so I can read in the natural light 😀
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 23, 2018It’s soooo aggravating! I mean, how hard is it to make them all the same size? -_- And yesss, the natural lighting and all… it sounds so perfect. Right now, the closest thing I have to that is the fact that the foot of my bed is by a window, so sometimes, I’ll go lay the wrong way in bed with my head down at the foot of it and read by the window light, lol.
Norrie
June 23, 2018Ah, the non matching covers bother me as well.
I sometimes skim books i read for the first time if i get to a boring part. *gasp* ?
I love highlighting in my kindle. Haven’t done in an actual book tho, but it looks cool.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 25, 2018Bahaha no judgment! I’m honestly growing more and more comfortable with the occasional speed/skim reading. >_>
Kindle highlighting is MY FAVE. It’s so convenient!
Ola
June 24, 2018Your perfect reading spot is also my perfect reading spot. I dream of having such place 🙂 <3
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 25, 2018It would be amazing! I hope we both get our dream reading spots someday! 😀